MSNBC's Pricci: Sheikh greedy to retire Bernardini so fast

I haven't figured out why anyone really gives a c-rap about what the Maktoums do with their money. If they want to buy and retire every one of their horses prematurely, why can't they? When they spend, that money trickles down to all of us. Why do you think Keeneland has such high purses? Because they're supplemented by the sales. High purses draw better horses, better horses draw more handicappers (and the "just fan" types who like to watch the good horses) and then create even more money for purses. Don't even get me started on how multi-million-dollar sales trickles down into the horse communities in general; the bonuses are just too easy to list.

I read somewhere that someone believed the high sales prices over-value stud fees. Well maybe in some cases, but 23-year-old Storm Cat sired a record-priced horse ($16 million for The Green Monkey) and, shock of all shocks, his fee stayed the same as it's been since the 1990s. And many horses who go to stud with large fees suffer the humiliation of having them reduced when they can't live up to the lofty expectations as sires. All I've been doing is reading about stallion fee reductions -- more dropped than raised because they need to fill their books. It's simple economics.

But if the Maktoums want to retire all of their horses at three, why can't they? They're their horses and they can do with them what they please. And if the breeders want to not send their mares to him, then more power to them. That's the way to get them if people are really mad, don't you think? If people in the game are really pi$$ed off, just don't send your mare to their stallions. Simple as that.

What, keeping the horse in training is the "sporting" thing to do to keep the fans happy? Does anyone think the handle generated by gambling on stakes races really boosts purses? What, we lose fans who don't have superstars to follow? Well let it be a lesson to all of us -- pick horses not owned by the Maktoums and maybe that will make us happy. Of course you could pick one to follow not owned by the Maktoums and not sold for seven figures in a true sportsman move (or eight, if the rumors are correct) and have him dead from cancer after two races as a 4-year-old.

I wasn't a Bernardini fan until his tenacious second in the Breeders' Cup, so I'm not losing much. But I will say that I won't be getting on a Darley/Godolphin horse bandwagon any time soon because I like to see them run.

[Danzig]

they're the big news right now, so a lot of interest in all aspects of their program.
personally, if i was richer than croesus, i'd be buying up every good horse i could find as well, so i don't have a beef with them spending a bunch. it's their business what they do with their money, no one else's.

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by redransom

I haven't figured out why anyone really gives a c-rap about what the Maktoums do with their money. If they want to buy and retire every one of their horses prematurely, why can't they? When they spend, that money trickles down to all of us. Why do you think Keeneland has such high purses? Because they're supplemented by the sales. High purses draw better horses, better horses draw more handicappers (and the "just fan" types who like to watch the good horses) and then create even more money for purses. Don't even get me started on how multi-million-dollar sales trickles down into the horse communities in general; the bonuses are just too easy to list.

...

But if the Maktoums want to retire all of their horses at three, why can't they? They're their horses and they can do with them what they please. And if the breeders want to not send their mares to him, then more power to them. That's the way to get them if people are really mad, don't you think? If people in the game are really pi$$ed off, just don't send your mare to their stallions. Simple as that.

What, keeping the horse in training is the "sporting" thing to do to keep the fans happy? Does anyone think the handle generated by gambling on stakes races really boosts purses? What, we lose fans who don't have superstars to follow? Well let it be a lesson to all of us -- pick horses not owned by the Maktoums and maybe that will make us happy. Of course you could pick one to follow not owned by the Maktoums and not sold for seven figures in a true sportsman move (or eight, if the rumors are correct) and have him dead from cancer after two races as a 4-year-old.

I wasn't a Bernardini fan until his tenacious second in the Breeders' Cup, so I'm not losing much. But I will say that I won't be getting on a Darley/Godolphin horse bandwagon any time soon because I like to see them run.

Your first 2 sentences seem inconsistent with your last 2 sentences. fwiw, I agree with the last 2.

--Dunbar

Originally Posted by Dunbar

Your first 2 sentences seem inconsistent with your last 2 sentences. fwiw, I agree with the last 2.

--Dunbar

I just won't be getting on any of their horses' bandwagons any time soon because, personally, I like to see them run. That doesn't mean I'd be telling them to keep them in training because I'd be bummed if they didn't. They can do whatever they want...

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by redransom

23-year-old Storm Cat sired a record-priced horse ($16 million for The Green Monkey) and, shock of all shocks, his fee stayed the same as it's been since the 1990s.

The Green Monkey is by Forestry, who is by Storm Cat.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

The Green Monkey is by Forestry, who is by Storm Cat.

Not to mention, even if he had been by Storm Cat, Storm Cat's fee couldn't get much higher than it already is! LMAO

So why is A.P. Indy still at $300,000, while Storm Cat is still at $500,000? Isn't A.P. Indy the leader in America?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Bold Reasoning

So why is A.P. Indy still at $300,000, while Storm Cat is still at $500,000? Isn't A.P. Indy the leader in America?

ap indy leads the general sires list...of course storm cat is either top, or close to the top, for i don't know how many years now....i'd have to look it up to see where ap indy has finished in years past.

but i think storm cat has a lot more appeal commercially than ap indy has had...also, take note that storm cat is currently #15 on the list of leading sire of 2 yo's, and has the most winners, and the most stakes winners on that list, while ap indy is FAR down the list, #45.

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

The Green Monkey is by Forestry, who is by Storm Cat.

Good catch and my bad. The horse I had in my head was actually Mr. Sekiguchi.

Originally Posted by Cardus

I agree.

You're too old for myspace.com.

Not that I need to explain, but...

I have a niece and she actually helped set it up for me. Thought we could bond over it or something.

We call myspace "The Devil" and since she's 12, we (mainly me) monitor her actions on it very carefully. We watch Dateline, after all...

And I am by far not alone in the "over 30ers" who have myspaces. If you don't know, I think it'd shock you. And at least I recognize it; I give myself props for that.